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E aku rangatira, tēnā koutou katoa. Ka nui te honore ki te mihi ki a koutou.

Good afternoon everyone and thank-you Dennis for inviting me to be here today.

The National Government’s business growth agenda has six streams focusing on the inputs businesses need to succeed and grow: export markets, capital markets, innovation, skilled and safe workplaces, natural resources and infrastructure.

There are more than 350 BGA actions, of which more than half are complete or being implemented.

Today I want to say a few words about my portfolio, and on some of the big challenges and opportunities facing your industry.

The horticulture industry plays a major role in New Zealand’s economic growth, contributing $6.7b to the economy in the year to June 2013 and making up around 8 percent of New Zealand’s total merchandise exports.

Horticultural exports have more than doubled since 2000, to $3.6 billion in 2013, and are forecasted to surpass $4 billion in 2016, a major milestone for the sector.

Kia ora hei hui tātou katoa.

Can I acknowledge Gary Taylor and the Environmental Defence Society (EDS) for the first class discussion and engagement that goes with these annual EDS conferences.

It is a pleasure for me to be here to speak at the opening of Nikau House. This is an exciting time for you all, a new beginning and I’m glad to be able to share this with you.

I commend the management of Elizabeth Knox Home and Hospital for the decision to invest in the future of your facility, thereby future-proofing the care that your residents will receive.

I am so glad to be able to join with you today in celebrating the success of the Disability Action Plan and your commitment to take it further.  

Ever since my valedictory speech last Thursday, I have been even more aware of the significance of certain achievements and experiences I have gathered during my eighteen years in Parliament.   It is absolutely clear to me that the progress that I have watched so keenly in the disability sector has been one of those ‘stand-out’ moments for me of my time here.

It’s great to be here tonight to launch this report on the economic contribution wine makes to New Zealand.

I believe it’s really important to celebrate your success as growers, producers and exporters. 

The wider primary industries are the backbone of New Zealand’s economy, making up around 73% of all our exports. Viticulture is an important part of that and this report shows us just how far you’ve come.

I move, that this House recognise that on the 4^th of August 2014, we will mark the centenary of New Zealand entering the First World War.

A few hours after the declaration of war by the British Empire, of which New Zealand was a part, the Governor of New Zealand Lord Liverpool told a crowd of thousands outside Parliament that New Zealand was at war with Germany.

The New Zealand government’s offer to send an expeditionary force – a move endorsed by this Parliament – was hugely significant.

Good evening and thank you for the opportunity to address you all tonight.

Following some challenging years, there are strong indications of improved results for many companies in the sector this year.

This resilience is a reflection of the hard work of people throughout the red meat sector.

The meat and wool sectors make up 21 percent of total primary sector export revenue at an estimated export value of $8 billion for the year ending 30 June 2014, which is a record.

I have been so looking forward to being with you today, to celebrate the transformation that we see already evident in Te Pūtahitanga o Te Wai Pounamu.

It is the most powerful concept to think that all of our whānau here in Ōtautahi are simultaneously connected in time and concept with all the whānau gathering at launch events today at Murihiku, Ōtākou, Tai Poutini, Whakatū, and Wairau.

Thank you for inviting me to your annual conference. It is my pleasure to be here to express my support for your organisation and to hear how your work is progressing.

I would like to acknowledge:

Mr Speaker, I move that the Māori Language (Te Reo Māori) Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Māori Affairs Committee to consider the bill.

At the appropriate time I intend to move that the bill be reported to the House by 20 March 2015, and that the Committee have authority to meet at any time while the House is sitting (except during oral questions), during any evening on a day on which there has been a sitting of the House, and on a Friday in a week in which there has been a sitting of the House, despite Standing Orders [188 and 191(1)(b) and (c)].

Tāmaki herenga waka

Tāmaki whai rawa

Tāmaki pai

Tāmaki-makau-rau

Ko ngā kurī purepure o Tāmaki e kore e ngaro i te pō....

It is with immense pleasure that I welcome for the last time into this House, the kāhui rangatira of Tāmaki-makau-rau.

Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki

Ngāti Maru

Ngāti Paoa

Ngāti Tamaoho

Ngāti Tamatera

Ngāti Te Ata

Ngāti Whanaunga

Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara

Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei

Te Ākitai Wai-o-hua

Te Kawerau-a-maki

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua

Thank you for inviting me here today. I’m especially pleased that you’ve asked me to talk about the challenges for the NZ tax system and creating certainty.

These are very topical issues and two things I am deeply interested in.

Taxation is a necessary part of society as long as government is required to provide services such as health, education, police, social welfare and rebuilding Christchurch.

Yet today, it seems to me that our tax system and in fact tax systems around the world, are at a cross roads.

It’s a pleasure to be back at the West Coast Minerals Forum for another year. 

The minerals industry is important for New Zealand. 

The sector plays a major role in our economy and contributes more than $1 billion to our GDP.  It is highly productive, provides high-reward jobs for New Zealanders, produces vital materials for industry, and adds significantly to our exports.

Developing our mineral resources can take decades — it is a long term game that the Government is committed to supporting.

Thank you Mark [Christie, President of Agcarm] for your introduction.

I firstly want to acknowledge the significant contribution members of Agcarm make to New Zealand.

As a farmer and a Minister, I know that the productivity of our land is critical to the wealth of our country and the ability to meet the aspirations of New Zealanders.

The products your members provide are a vital link in a supply chain that starts with our fertile land and ends with satisfied customers around the world.

He kohu, he kohu, tau ana, tau ana.

Tau tāpapa ana ki runga ki a Maungapōhatu a Hinepūkohurangi.

E, ko Tūhoe-Pōtiki, nau mai, hara mai rā, nau mai.

I am deeply honoured to welcome to this House, the sons and daughters of Maungapōhatu; the children of Hinepūkohurangi; and the descendants of Tūhoe-Pōtiki.

I am honoured because this landmark legislation concludes its passage in the final weeks of my office as Minister of Māori Affairs.

What a privilege to be part of such an historic process! 

Zespri Chairman Peter McBride, CEO Lain Jager, my ministerial colleague Todd McLay, Todd Muller, our candidate for the Bay of Plenty – well known to all of you because of his close involvement with your industry – ladies and gentlemen.

It’s great to be here today to witness the signing of the Government Industry Agreement Deed by the New Zealand Pork Industry.

This is a historic day. It’s the result of the hard work over several years of both industry and government to realise the benefits of working in partnership. 

There is a simple but important principle behind the GIA: by working together, we are stronger.

This agreement means we can share our expertise, experience and knowledge to make joint decisions on biosecurity readiness and response.

Thank you for inviting me to the Local Government New Zealand conference. It’s great to be here in Nelson, and it’s great to see all the local mayors, chief executives and elected members.

Ladies and Gentlemen.

The relationship between central government and local government is one of partnership.

We rely on each other to make good choices for our fellow New Zealanders.

Tēnā koutou. Ka mihi au ki te kaupapa o Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori. He taonga motuhake tēnei nō tātau, nō te motu. Kia kaha tātau ki te ako i te kupu o te wiki. Kia ora.

My acknowledgments firstly to:

Good afternoon.

Today I want to speak on the government’s achievements in transport over the last three years and our future plans.

But before I do that, we are just 64 days from a general election, and I want to quickly give you a few reasons why the John Key-led Government’s economic plan is helping Kiwis get ahead.

I want to thank Waitangi Wood and Lee Tuki, current Māori caucus representatives for the opportunity to talk with you and Warren Lindberg in his role as Chief Executive.

In ten days’ time, I will be preparing to give my valedictory speech.   Usually in election year there is a curious intensity, as campaign fever takes over Parliament.  Add to that, the frenzy that is associated with the impending closure of the Parliament, let alone the end of eighteen years of service, and you can probably guess that the demands on my time are at an all-time high.

Good morning. It is a pleasure to be invited to speak at this year’s NetHui.

Can I begin by acknowledging InternetNZ for organising this event, and for their on-going work in ensuring that key issues affecting the development of our digital future continue to be prominently and actively debated.

In particular, I want to acknowledge InternetNZ’s ongoing work on:

Around the world, friends of India, strategists, business groups and others are all starting to ask a rather important question. With the landslide victory of the BJP over Congress, we have seen a shift in the political tectonic plates. What implications will this have, if any, for India’s approach to international economic negotiations? No doubt, even that is too confining; as Minister of Climate Change Issues, I am also wondering about that matter in terms of the international climate change negotiations. But today, I wear my Trade hat.